Calvin Pace had 28 sacks in five years with the Jets. / Rich Kane, USA TODAY Sports

by Mike Garafolo and Jarrett Bell, USA TODAY Sports

by Mike Garafolo and Jarrett Bell, USA TODAY Sports

The New York Jets were more than $20 million over the projected 2013 salary cap while interviewing candidates to be their next general manager (i.e. the person in charge of hacking salary across the board).

John Idzik got that job and has commenced slicing and dicing.

The Jets released linebackers Bart Scott and Calvin Pace, safety Eric Smith and backup offensive tackle Jason Smith on Tuesday. Those players were scheduled to count for more than $35.2 million against the 2013 cap. There's a little more than $2 million in dead money in Pace's deal, which means the savings on releasing those four players - plus tight end Josh Baker, who was waived - is a little over $31 million.

"Every one of these players was a major contributor to our football team," coach Rex Ryan said in a statement posted on the team's website.

"I was very impressed with Jason this past season while Bart, Calvin and Eric have been an instrumental part of our defense for the past four years. Josh came in as an undrafted free agent and earned a spot on our roster. They have the work ethic and attitude that you look for in players and they will always be New York Jets. It was an honor to coach each of these men. They are tremendous people as well as outstanding football players."

At the start of the week, the Jets were $26.3 million over the cap, according to salary cap report obtained by USA TODAY Sports.

Scott's agent, Harold Lewis, told USA TODAY Sports on Tuesday he was scheduled to meet with the Jets later this week at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis to discuss a possible pay cut. Lewis said Scott, who was limited in 2012 with a toe injury and will be 33 on opening day this season, realized he wouldn't be able to stick with the team at his scheduled base salary of $6.9 million but wanted to remain a Jet.

So much for that, though Lewis said he believed Scott would get looks as a free agent if released.

Pace and Scott were signed as free agents in 2008 and 2009, respectively. They helped lead an attacking defense under Ryan, who was hired in 2009 and took the team to back-to-back AFC Championship Games in his first two seasons.

But the Jets' defense has aged and is in need of an overhaul under new defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman, who was promoted after Mike Pettine left to join the Buffalo Bills.

Scott's "Can't Wait!" postgame interview with ESPN's Sal Paolantonio after New York's divisional round playoff upset of the New England Patriots in the second run to the conference title game was the moment that seemed to define the attitude of Ryan's defense at the time.

The biggest remaining question on defense now heading into 2013 is what will become of cornerback Darrelle Revis. In an interview that aired on NFL Network on Monday, Revis said he's looking for "answers" about whether he'll be traded but is getting "none."

The Jets are hardly alone in needing to make significant moves in order to get under the salary cap, which is projected to be about $121 million for the new league year that begins March 12. The Dallas Cowboys began the week needing to slash more than $28 million, while the New Orleans Saints were roughly $20 million over the projected cap. The Pittsburgh Steelers and Carolina Panthers needed to clear around $14 million apiece.

And even teams in relatively close range of the projected cap have work to do, to account for franchise tags, tenders for restricted free agents and money to spend in free agency.

The Jets are hardly alone in needing to make significant moves in order to get under the salary cap, which is projected to be about $121 million for the new league year that begins on March 12. The Dallas Cowboys began the week needing to slash more than $28 million, while the New Orleans Saints were roughly $20 million over the projected cap. The Pittsburgh Steelers and Carolina Panthers needed to clear around $14 million.

And even teams in relatively close range of the projected cap have work to do, to account for franchise tags, tenders for restricted free agents and money to spend in free agency.

It's an annual dance under the cap system, fueling the flurry of activity that includes restructuring contracts for players staying put in addition to victims of the chopping block.

CAP SPACE

The following are approximate dollar amounts for each NFL team's 2013 cap space. Cap space is based on an estimated $121 million salary cap and includes the unused 2012 cap space carried over by each club. Only the top 51 contracts for each team have been included. Clubs must be under the salary cap by the start of the new league year March 12.